5:9-11
9: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen! As believers, we know that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and will no longer face eternal judgment, but instead will praise our Father in heaven forever!
10: who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him.
Paul is referring to asleep as in those who have already died rather than those who are at rest for the night. I say this because of the context and because the Thessalonians had asked Paul about those who had already died and he had answered them earlier, but seems to be reiterating that they will also be with Christ.
11: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
These words are meant to encourage and we as believers are supposed to encourage one another. We do not live this life alone. God has given us those around us, specifically fellow believers, to encourage and build us up just as we are supposed to be doing that for them as well. If we are not being encouraged, there are a few reasons:
- we have not surrounded ourselves with believers
- the believers around us are struggling in this area
- we could be in sin and in a period of rebuke rather than encouragement and should repent so that we can be encouraged by God’s word
We should also strive to encourage other believers. As an introvert, this is particularly difficult for me because I’d rather keep quiet, but thankfully God uses His Spirit to prick my heart to encourage others (although I am not always good at listening.)
Rerouted 